A Creative Beginning
Growing up, Neri was always drawn to the arts. He earned an associate degree in graphic design and initially pursued creative work in the corporate world. But something was missing.
While he enjoyed the creative process, he longed for the hands-on, tangible work he had experienced in the summers while working for an excavation company.
“I missed working outside,” Neri said. “I went back to my old boss and said, ‘I would really like to go back and run equipment if you would have me.’ He said, ‘It’s not really what you went to school for.’ He was a stand-up guy like that. He just wanted to see me succeed. But what I went to school for I didn’t enjoy doing, so I ended up going back to work for him.”
Embracing the Unexpected
After returning to excavation work, Neri gained valuable experience operating equipment and learning the intricacies of construction. But when the 2008 recession hit, the housing market slowed, and he noticed a shift—homeowners were investing more in their existing properties, focusing on patios and outdoor living spaces.
Recognizing the opportunity, another company approached Phil to run a hardscape crew.
“I really didn’t know anything about hardscaping but I knew I had enough skills and I’d been around construction enough to figure it out,” Neri said. “So that’s what I did.”
He took the job, immersing himself in the world of patios, retaining walls, and outdoor structures. Every year he would go to a trade show with this company and his booth was repeatedly next to the booth for New Castle Lawn & Landscape.
“For three years I said to my wife, ‘That looks like a good, growing company to go work for.’ I just dragged my feet and finally one day I talked to them,” Neri recounted. “It took a few months negotiating and I came on board here at New Castle with the encouragement and support of my wife.”
Carving Out a Key Role
Neri was originally hired as a foreman for smaller jobs. He worked his way up to lead foreman, then to a supervisor role running the entire hardscape division. He took on the graphic design for marketing and creating the New Castle brand in addition to his foreman and supervisory responsibilities. About six years ago, Neri decided he needed to get out of the field and focus on design full-time.
“In 2018 the owners and I put a plan together for me to move into a design role. I taught myself the software over the winter, and just jumped into the full-time design role in the Spring of 2019,” he said.
“It’s not really the path I thought I’d see myself going, but it worked out. We decided to grow our design department last year and hire another full-time designer, who I manage. He complements our team with a fresh perspective and an expansive knowledge of native plantings. This gives us the opportunity to bounce ideas off of each other and learn from each other as well,” Neri said. “I still play a big part in our marketing team as well. It’s definitely a unique role. I get to wear a couple hats and I get to work to my strengths.”
But that doesn’t mean he has given up field work entirely.
“I still enjoy running equipment and I still enjoy working in the field. However, my body just can’t take it,” Neri said. “I do find myself sneaking away when I can to help out with the crews and jump on a machine and help do some grading work, some dig out work, or help with laying and cutting pavers from time to time. I just have to scratch that itch a little bit.”
A Blend of Skills
Neri’s background in hands-on construction heavily influences the way he designs projects.
“Being a guy that started with a shovel then progressed to operating equipment followed by managing people to learning how to install the products correctly, all of this experience provides perspective as it relates to design,” Neri said. “If you know all those steps, you can almost see yourself building the project as you’re designing it.”
He is also able to blend together his training in graphic design with hardscape design.
“It’s all about visuals and how things flow and work together, especially when you’re designing a patio or outdoor living space,” Neri said. “You just want things to flow ,look right ,match, and most importantly be functional. You want your materials to work together and colors and textures to complement each other. It’s almost the same thing as graphic design, just a different canvas. I’m not just designing in 2-D. I’m designing in 3-D, with the added benefit of getting to see it being built in the real word.”
Neri said New Castle’s process is a little different than many hardscaping companies. The sales team collects information on colors, preferences, exterior and interior look of the home, and more. Neri is asked to use the information gathered and bring concepts to life with their design software. He crafts stunning outdoor living spaces that homeowners can visualize before a single paver is laid.
Advice for Aspiring Hardscapers
Neri wants people considering the industry to understand that hardscaping offers multiple avenues for professional growth.
“You can make a career out of it. It’s not just a job to go to,” he said. “You can start at the bottom and you can work your way up. You can continue to stay on the field and be a number one foreman for as long as you want. You could move into a supervisor role. You could make a total change and go to designer role. You could go the sales route. We at New Castle even have a full-time content creator. I think within our industry, there is plenty of opportunity. It’s just finding the place that’s going to give you the opportunity to work to your strengths.”
Neri recommends that aspiring hardscapers do their homework to find the right fit company for them. Look them up online. Follow them on social media. Understand their values and approach.
“There’s a lot of good companies out there that do a lot of cool things,” he said.
Neri is passionate about supporting the next generation of trade professionals. He advocates for using modern tools and equipment that make the work safer and more efficient.
“We need to guide younger guys into the trade industry,” he says. “There are good opportunities, and with the right tools, the work does not need to be as strenuous or as taxing as it used to be.”
The field also offers a chance to see the real impact you can make. Neri cites his work at a local museum as one of his favorite projects.
“It’s so cool when you can build something in the community that all of the community can enjoy,” he said. “It’s rewarding to know you played a role in that.”
Neri’s journey is proof that there’s no single path to success in hardscaping. Whether you start in construction, design, or another field entirely, this industry offers endless possibilities to find your niche.
